World Animal Day Celebration Report

The 2015 World Animal Day was celebrated at Amhara Regional State level in Mecha district on November 28, 2015. The event was organized by Amhara Region Livestock Agency in collaboration with Bahir Dar University and Donkey Sanctuary project.Totally 134(30-F) participants composed of farmers; livestock experts from districts, zones and regional offices as well as Bahir Dar University; experts from different projects such as ATA, HAB, GIZ, LIVES, LMD, SNV, Donkey sanctuary, etc; and experts from Bureaus of Trade,and Small & Micro enterprise attended the event. The day was celebrated by field visit, and exchange of views through presentation and discussion.

  1. Field Visit

Participants observed communal grazing land closure, improved fodder production practice, clustered cattle fattening and dairy development activities, fattening of crossbred bulls and young animals, and use of manure for biogas production in Bachema and Enashenefalen PAs and peri-urban areas of Merawi town. LIVES team used this opportunity to promote different livestock production technologies such as cow mat, milking machine, feeding and watering utensils and the role of biogas powered electric generator for rural electrification.

  1. Presentationsgeneral discussion
  2. Prior to the presentation, organizers invited Dr. AzageTegegne as honorable guest to lighta candle made with a shape of number 2. The aim was to remind participants that the district hosted regional level livestock day celebration for the 2nd time. The first was organized by LIVES project in collaboration with Livestock Agency and the district Office of Agriculture last year. Thisconfirmed the responsible government institutions commitment to own and sustain LIVES project interventions.
  • Following the candle lighting ceremony, LIVES project staff (Drs. AzageZeleke) presented papers on challenges and opportunities of the livestock sector in Ethiopia and advantages of zero grazing, respectively for participants. Participants appreciated both presentations and requested softcopy of these presentations. LIVES project participated in this event by sharing its experiences.

Lessons learnt:

  1. Last year LIVES project organized large ruminant fattening fair in Mecha district. The district livestock expert (AtoMekonnen) acknowledged LIVES project contribution for the event and reported that the event created distant market for cattle fatteners in the district. According to him, every week about 160 to 260 fattened animals sold to distant market such as Addis Ababa & Dire Dawa. This new market opportunity contributed for the expansion of cattle fattening activity in the district. However, farmers still has knowledge and skill gap to fatten animals in a short period of time and in a more profitable way.
  1. LIVES project in collaboration with the Livestock Agency tried different estrus synchronization hormones and doses on two sheep breeds last year at DebreBirhan sheep multiplication center. A participant from DebreBirhan Sheep Multiplication Center (AtoDagne) acknowledged LIVES project contribution for the technology and, appreciated and shared the result of this activityfor participants and requested the Livestock Agency to scale-up this practice in the region. LIVES project is demonstrating hormone assisted sheep synchronization in South Wollo zone.
  1. Participants of the event (Aynalem from BoA) appreciated what they have seen from the field visit. According to them, farmers converted the low priced maize grain in to milk and meat and started gaining better profit. They have also converted their backyard (most fertile cropland) into fodder production site. According to him, thisreflectsfarmersinterest on dairy and cattle fattening business. However, farmers still need support on business development concept and knowledge. This indicates the attitudinal shift of public agricultural extension service providers from production focused to market oriented agricultural extension service.
  1. Participants (AtoZelalem from Awi Zone) appreciated the cluster based commodity development approached followed in the district. According to him, the approach is useful to share experiences, provide technical support and organize farmers for collective marketing. He promised to apply the cluster approach and organize similar event (livestock fair) in his zone. Therefore, clustered based commodity development approach of LIVES project got acceptance by public extension service providers.
  1. Farmers (Tegabu, MulualemTeshagere) reported that lack of milk processing and marketing institution as a crucial problem for dairy businessdevelopment in the district. As a result of this problem, farmers keep few numbers of crossbred dairy cows in their farm. Dr. Azage shared the Mekele dairy product marketing shops experience and advised them to try to solve the problem following similar approach since it is also an employment or income generating opportunity. In addition, the Livestock Agency Manager (AtoShemelese) reported the establishment status of a private dairy processing factory around Bahir Dar. Moreover, the district Vice Administrator (AtoTemesegen) promised to organize the community and establish dairy processing cooperative in the district.
  1. Most of the communal grazing lands in Mecha district are closed and farmers practiced cut and carry system. Farmers (AtoMulualem, etc) reported the advantage of communal grazing land closure and the practice of cut and carry system. However, they complained about the high labor cost and requested labor saving cutting and bailing technologies. Dr. Azage (LIVES) promised to introduce and demonstrate such type of technologies in the area and link farmers with suppliers of these technologies.
  1. Participants observed the presence of huge amount of crop residue that can be collected both from the rainfed and irrigated crop production system. This resource need to be properly collected and processed into animal feed to support the emerging dairy and cattle fattening business. Last year, LIVES project demonstrated feed chopper to farmers, experts and decision makers of Mecha district. Following the demonstration, one FHH (Mrs. Tesfaye) with partial financial support from one project operating in the district purchased chopper and started feed chopping business. This attest the expansion of technologies introduced and demonstrated by LIVES project.